Abstract: Techniques for providing a synthetic price are described herein. The techniques may include a method of synthetic price provisioning including identifying a device operating in a consumption entity, wherein the device operates at least partially based on a pricing signal provided by an energy provider. Optimal operation is determined based on the device and other devices in the consumption entity. The method includes providing a synthetic pricing signal to replace the pricing signal provided by the energy provider such that the devices operate according to the optimization model.

Abstract: A dynamic workflow system and process for use in logistic support and management. The dynamic workflow system includes a central server that maintains all of the customer's requirements for each of its orders. The central server can generate unique workflows to follow to meet the requirements for each order submitted by the customers. The central server creates instructions from the workflows that it transmits to a remote device for an individual to follow in order to fulfill the customer's order. The remote device includes a shell program application which generates the workflows based upon the instructions received from the central server. The shell program application replaces the need for the remote device to store profiles for each customer that reflect their requirements.

Abstract: Systems and methods which provide metering of postage value using accumulated postage information are shown. Embodiments implement an accumulated postage register in a postage security device which is incremented each time a postage indicium is generated and which is reset when a postage value settlement operation is performed. Accumulated postage may be paid for using various accounts, including pre-funded or pre-paid accounts, credit accounts, debit accounts, and billing accounts. Accordingly, embodiments may be used with respect to a post-paid metering model, a pre-paid metering model, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system for determining delivery estimates for shipping a parcel include: retrieving historical delivery data from a plurality of shipping carriers; generating cross-carrier delivery features based on normalizing the historical delivery data; generating a cross-carrier delivery prediction model based on the cross-carrier delivery features; retrieving parcel data for the parcel based on a tracking number S140; generating parcel features based on normalizing the parcel data S150; determining a delivery estimate for the parcel based on processing the parcel features with the cross-carrier delivery prediction model S160; and responding to the delivery estimate S170.

Abstract: A luggage processing station for registering a passenger's luggage. The station includes an injector for receiving a piece of luggage associated with the passenger. A plurality of sensors are associated with the injector. A weighing machine is also associated with the injector for weighing the luggage while in the injector. The processing station also includes a user interface for receiving various inputs for confirming that a passenger has checked-in and to display information to the passenger during processing the luggage. A controller is associated with the sensors and weighing machine and the user interface. The controller is adapted to accept the luggage if the input received via the passenger's boarding pass or identification indicate that the passenger has checked-in, feedback from the sensors indicates that predetermined criteria are met, and if feedback from the weighing machine indicates that weight of luggage is within a predetermined limit.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for delivery of items in connection with social networks. For example, in various embodiments, a customer can register with a carrier and identify participation is various social networks. The carriers may then use the social network contacts of the customer to facilitate improved delivery efficiency.

Abstract: An interactive rapid response Internet accessed air travel management system. The system includes a web-based planning and reservation interface system and an interactive access device. The system responds to details of a member's desired travel, to thereafter act in real time to contact the domains of associated travel service providers to arrange for every aspect of the member's trip, from airline and hotel reservations, ticket issuance, and ground transportation, to restaurant and theater reservations, and any other travel related needs of the member. The system stores identification information to verify access device possession to prohibit unauthorized use of the system and to provide security pre-clearance to system members.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products that enable a travel agent to selectively share information related to a plurality of travel products with a traveler. In response to a search query from the travel agent, an information sharing module receives information relating to the plurality of travel products from a travel database system. The information sharing module causes the information to be displayed to a travel agent on a first display of a travel agency system. In response to the travel agent selecting a subset of the travel products, the information sharing module displays information relating to the subset of travel products to the traveler on a second display separate from the first display. The information sharing module may be configured to reformat the information so that the information is adapted to the traveler, and to cause travel products selected by the traveler to be booked.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for improved delivery notification using a wireless node network having an ID node, a master node, and a server. The master node detects a signal from the ID node as the ID node approaches the master node located substantially near a delivery point, where the ID node is related to an item being shipped (such as being in or part of the package that holds the item). The master node determines shipping information related to the ID node and an intended recipient of the item being shipped (e.g., via server inquiries), and transmits a notification from the master node to the identified recipient, the notification informing the intended recipient about the item being substantially near the delivery point. In some aspects, the master node may transmit an instruction to the server, which causes the server to transmit the notification to the intended recipient.

Abstract: A computer program product for recharging a number of battery electric vehicles includes computer usable program code. The computer usable program code is configured to receive, from the number of battery electric vehicles that are to recharge at a number of recharging stations, usage data. The usage data includes a current charge level, a current location, and a planned itinerary that includes a destination. The computer usable program code is configured to determine anticipated electrical loads in the number of sectors of the electrical grid system based on the usage data of the number of battery electric vehicles. The computer usable program code is configured to redistribute the electrical supply on the electrical grid system to at least one recharging station of the number of recharging stations based on the anticipated electrical loads, prior to actual usage defined by the usage data by the number of battery electrical vehicles.

Abstract: A mainframe computing system includes a central processor complex, a plurality of billing entities, each billing entity having a respective capacity limit, and a workload manager that schedules work requested by the plurality of billing entities on the central processor complex and tracks, by billing entity, a rolling average of millions of service units. The mainframe also includes a dynamic capping policy that identifies a maximum MSU limit, a maximum cost limit, a subset of the plurality of billing entities, and, for each billing entity in the subset, information from which to determine a MSU entitlement value and cost entitlement value. The mainframe also includes a dynamic capping master that adjusts the respective capacity limits of the subset of the plurality of billing entities at scheduled intervals based on the dynamic capping policy to favor billing entities having high-importance workload within the maximum MSU limit and maximum cost limit.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, media and code for routing a mail item are provided. A conveyor in mechanical communication with a mail item registration station may include a processor for registering a first part of the mail item. The processor may: determine that: the first part is a payment part; and a second part that corresponds to the first part is exceptional; identify a destination that corresponds to the first part; and route the first part to the destination along with an indication corresponding to the missing second part.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a printer and a buffer coupled to the printer for temporarily storing sheets fed out from the printer. The apparatus further includes a control mechanism for monitoring the buffer to determine a number of sheets currently stored in the buffer. The apparatus also includes a data source device that is separate from the printer and is coupled to the printer for selectively providing pages of print data to the printer. The data source device is coupled to the control mechanism and is operative to provide the pages of print data to the printer in response to control signals from the control mechanism.

Abstract: The economical load distribution adjusting device 10 acquires an optimal hydroelectric output, optimal demand, and optimal power price from the supply-demand planning device 23, acquires the planned hydroelectric output planned by the water level planning devices 21, and acquires a planned demand planned by the hot water tank temperature control devices 22. The economical load distribution adjusting device 10 reduces the power price of the time at which the planned hydroelectric output exceeds the optimal output and makes the water level planning devices 21 replan the hydroelectric output, and raises the power price of the time at which the planned demand exceeds the optimal demand and makes the hot water tank temperature control devices 22 replan the amount of demand.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving seat selection at a venue are described. The methods and systems help users understand how good a view they will have of a performance or event and/or how enjoyable an experience they will have before they purchase a ticket. A user selects a seat and is able to access relevant traits of people who purchased seats proximate to the selected seat. Relevant traits include physical features such as height, weight, build, etc., and behavior information, such as how noisy or quiet the person is.

Abstract: A component executing within a programmable execution system (PES) receives a request to launch a virtual machine instance, such as from a customer of the PES. In response to receiving such a request, the component computes an expected cost of executing the virtual machine instance over its lifetime based upon one or more cost factors. The component also computes an expected value of executing the virtual machine instance over its lifetime based upon one or more value factors. Based upon the computed expected cost and the computed expected value associated with executing the virtual machine instance, the component determines whether or not to launch the virtual machine instance. The component might utilize a similar mechanism to determine whether to instantiate other types of computing resources.

Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.

Abstract: Embodiments may include a forecasting component that, for each of different service levels offered to customers, generates a projection of the quantity of shipments to be shipped according to that service level during a time period. The forecasting component may be configured to, based on an aggregate quantity of shipments projected to be shipped, modify the projected quantities of shipments for the multiple service levels. The forecasting component may, for each service level, receive information specifying a distribution of different shipment methods that are projected to be utilized to ship shipments of a particular priority designation to meet requirements of that service level. The forecasting component may, based on the distribution for each service level and the modified projected quantity of shipments for each service level, generate a forecast specifying quantities of shipments that are to be shipped during the time period according to each of the different shipment methods.

Abstract: A method and system capable of authenticating transactions involving at least one service provider and one or more users who are each in electronic communication. This electronic communication can be, for example, SMS, MMS, e-mail or online account messaging. Certain embodiments provide for the transaction to be an authentication and/or verification of an entity. Examples of such entities are products, actions and users.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for distributing a resource (such as electricity) using a resource allocation system. In one exemplary embodiment, a system is disclosed comprising a first feeder network configured to deliver electrical power to a first plurality of customers. The first feeder network is controlled by a first market-based pricing system that computes a first feeder network price of electrical power at first periodic intervals. The system of this embodiment further comprises a second feeder network configured to deliver electrical power to a second plurality of customers. The second feeder network is controlled by a second market-based pricing system that computes a second feeder network price of electrical power at second periodic intervals.